Parallel use of serial controls in improved wireless devices and power amplifier modules

Abstract

A power amplifier module can include one or more switches, a coupler module, input signal pins, and a controller having first and second output terminals. The input signal pins can receive a voltage input/output signal, a clock input signal, and a data input signal. The controller can (i) set a mode of the one or more switches using a synchronous communication protocol in which the controller outputs a synchronous clock signal on the first output terminal and a data signal on the second output terminal, when the power amplifier module is in a first operating mode, or (ii) set a mode of the coupler module using an asynchronous communication protocol in which the controller outputs a first asynchronous control signal on the first output terminal and a second asynchronous control signal on the second output terminal, when the power amplifier module is in a second operating mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A radio frequency module comprising:
 at least one radio frequency component; and 
 a controller including at least one output terminal, the at least one output terminal connected to the at least one radio frequency component, the controller configured to, in a first operating mode, implement a synchronous communication protocol on the at least one output terminal, and in a second operating mode, implement an asynchronous communication protocol on the at least one output terminal. 
 
     
     
       2. The radio frequency module of  claim 1  wherein the at least one radio frequency component includes at least a switch and a coupler. 
     
     
       3. The radio frequency module of  claim 2  wherein the controller is further configured to output an enable signal based at least on a determination that the radio frequency module is in the first operating mode such that control of the switch using the synchronous communication protocol is enabled. 
     
     
       4. The radio frequency module of  claim 3  wherein the controller is disabled from controlling the coupler while control of the switch using the synchronous communication protocol is enabled. 
     
     
       5. The radio frequency module of  claim 3  wherein a state of the coupler remains unchanged until the radio frequency module is no longer in the first operating mode. 
     
     
       6. The radio frequency module of  claim 2  wherein the controller is further configured to output an enable signal based at least on a determination that the radio frequency module is in the second operating mode such that control of the switch using the synchronous communication protocol is disabled. 
     
     
       7. The radio frequency module of  claim 6  wherein the controller is further configured to control the coupler using the asynchronous communication protocol while control of the switch using the synchronous communication protocol is disabled. 
     
     
       8. The radio frequency module of  claim 1  wherein the radio frequency module is a power amplifier module. 
     
     
       9. The radio frequency module of  claim 1  wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether the radio frequency module is in the first operating mode or in the second operating mode based at least on a data input signal. 
     
     
       10. The radio frequency module of  claim 1  wherein the radio frequency module is further configured to refrain from outputting data for transmission via one or more antennas connected to the radio frequency module in the first operating mode. 
     
     
       11. The radio frequency module of  claim 10  wherein the radio frequency module is further configured to output data for transmission via the one or more antennas in the second operating mode. 
     
     
       12. A method for controlling one or more components of a radio frequency module in a wireless communication device, the method comprising:
 determining that the radio frequency module is in a first operating mode; 
 implementing a synchronous communication protocol on at least one output terminal connected to at least one radio frequency component of the radio frequency module; 
 determining that the radio frequency module is in a second operating mode; and 
 in response to said determining that the radio frequency module is in the second operating mode, implementing an asynchronous communication protocol on the at least one output terminal. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  wherein the at least one radio frequency component includes at least a switch and a coupler. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13  further comprising outputting an enable signal based at least on a determination that the radio frequency module is in the first operating mode such that control of the switch using the synchronous communication protocol is enabled. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14  further comprising refraining from controlling the coupler while control of the switch using the synchronous communication protocol is enabled. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14  further comprising maintaining a state of the coupler until the radio frequency module is no longer in the first operating mode. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 13  further comprising outputting an enable signal based at least on a determination that the radio frequency module is in the second operating mode such that control of the switch using the synchronous communication protocol is disabled. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17  further comprising controlling the coupler using the asynchronous communication protocol while control of the switch using the synchronous communication protocol is disabled. 
     
     
       19. A wireless communication device comprising:
 a transceiver; 
 an antenna; and 
 a radio frequency module in communication with the transceiver and the antenna and having a controller and at least one radio frequency component, the controller including at least one output terminal, the at least one output terminal connected to the at least one radio frequency component, the controller configured to, in a first operating mode, implement a synchronous communication protocol on the at least one output terminal, and in a second operating mode, implement an asynchronous communication protocol on the at least one output terminal. 
 
     
     
       20. The wireless communication device of  claim 19  wherein the controller is further configured to refrain from controlling the at least one radio frequency component using the synchronous communication protocol while the wireless communication device is transmitting data via the antenna.